Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, Her Husband and Their Golden Retriever Lie in State as Public Brings Dogs to Pay Respects

Mourners paid their respects to Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark Hortman and their family dog in a special way.

On Friday, June 27, the Hortmans and their dog Gilbert laid in state in the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda following their deaths on June 14. The occurrence marked the first time that a woman and an animal have lied in state at the Capitol in Minnesota history.

Photos from the formal occasion show two wooden caskets positioned beside each other, with a framed picture of the couple between them. A golden urn decorated with paw prints for Gilbert was perched on a high table in the middle of the caskets, alongside a photo of the pooch and a bouquet of flowers.

In a poignant gesture, members of the public brought their dogs to the Capitol as they paid their respects. Among the pooches, there has been a service dog, as well as other golden retrievers like Gilbert.

Melissa, Mark and their dog were fatally shot at their home in Stillwater, Minn., on June 14. The alleged shooter, Vance Boelter, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder on June 15 after a statewide manhunt, The Associated Press reported.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on June 16, Sophie and Colin said, “If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.”